translation_id: net-engnet

label: NET translator note

text: Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.


text: For location see JP1-C2 ; JP2-C2 ; JP3-C2 ; JP4-C2 .


text: Or “are throughout Achaia.”


text: Grk “Grace to you and peace.”


text: There is no verb in the Greek text; either the optative (“be”) or the indicative (“is”) can be supplied. The meaning of the term εὐλογητός ( euloghtos ) and the author’s intention at this point in the epistle must both come into play to determine which is the preferred nuance. εὐλογητός as an adjective can mean either that one is praised or that one is blessed, that is, in a place of favor and benefit. The meaning “blessed” would be more naturally paired with an indicative verb and would suggest that blessedness is an intrinsic part of God’s character. The meaning “praised” would be more naturally paired with an optative verb and would suggest that God ought to be praised. Pauline style in the epistles generally moves from statements to obligations, expressing the reality first and then the believer’s necessary response. When considered as a whole, although a decision is difficult, the general Pauline style of beginning with statements and moving to obligations argues for the indicative. Cf. also Eph 1:3 ; 1 Pet 1:3 .


text: Or “our trials”; traditionally, “our affliction.” The term θλῖψις ( qliyi" ) refers to trouble (including persecution) that involves direct suffering (L&N 22.2).


text: Or “any trials”; traditionally, “any affliction.”


text: This Greek word translated “sufferings” here ( πάθημα , paqhma ) is a different one than the one Paul uses for his own afflictions/persecutions ( θλῖψις , qliyi" ) in v. 4 .


text: I.e., suffering incurred by Paul as a consequence of his relationship to Christ. The genitive could be considered to have a causative nuance here.


text: Traditionally, “abound” (here and throughout this section).


text: The words “to you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied by the statements in the following verse.


text: Or “are troubled.”


text: Grk “as you are sharers in.”


text: Grk “will be sharers in.”


text: Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1., where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [ adelfoi ] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).


text: Grk “Asia”; in the NT this always refers to the Roman province of Asia, made up of about one-third of the west and southwest end of modern Asia Minor. Asia lay to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia. The words “the province of” are supplied to indicate to the modern reader that this does not refer to the continent of Asia.


text: Grk “we ourselves had the sentence of death within ourselves.” Here ἀπόκριμα ( apokrima ) is being used figuratively; no actual official verdict had been given, but in light of all the difficulties that Paul and his colleagues had suffered, it seemed to them as though such an official verdict had been rendered against them (L&N 56.26).


text: Or “might not put confidence in ourselves.”


text: Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative clause “who delivered us…” was made a separate sentence in the translation.


text: Grk “deliver us, on whom we have set our hope.”


text: Ψ 33 Ï f t vg), have the full expression ὅτι καὶ ἔτι ( {oti kai eti ). Although the predominantly Alexandrian reading has much to commend it, the fact that either ὅτι or ἔτι has been dropped, while the καί has been retained, suggests that the original wording had ὅτι καὶ ἔτι , and that either particle dropped out intentionally for stylistic reasons. (F and G have the order καί ὅτι , suggesting that in their archetype the ἔτι was unintentionally dropped due to homoioteleuton.) If, however, ὅτι is not authentic, v. 10 b should be translated “We have set our hope on him, and he will deliver us again.” Overall, a decision is difficult, but preference should be given to ὅτι καὶ ἔτι .


text: Grk “so that thanks may be given by many.” The words “to God” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. The passive construction has been converted to an active one for clarity, in keeping with contemporary English style.


text: Or “for boasting.”


text: א * A B C K P Ψ 0121 0243 33 81 1739 1881 al co). This diversity of mss provides excellent evidence for authenticity, but because of the internal evidence listed above, ἁπλότητι is to be preferred, albeit only slightly. Or “sincerity.” The two terms translated “pure motives” ( ἁπλότης , Japloth" ) and “sincerity” ( εἰλικρίνεια , eilikrineia ) are close synonyms.


text: Grk “pure motives and sincerity of God.”


text: Or “not by worldly wisdom.”


text: Or “and especially.”


text: Grk “than the things.”


text: Grk “to the end,” a Greek idiom for “fully,” “totally,” “completely.”


text: Grk “that we are your boast even as you are our boast.”


text: places the pronoun in brackets, indicating doubt as to its authenticity.


text: Grk “a second grace,” “a second favor” (used figuratively of a second visit by Paul).


text: Grk “come again.”


text: The Greek construction anticipates a negative answer. This is indicated in the translation by the ‘tag’ question “did I?” at the end of the sentence.


text: Grk “the things that I plan, do I plan (them).”


text: Grk “according to the flesh.”


text: Grk “so that with me there should be.”


text: Or “strengthens.”


text: Grk “But he who establishes us together with you in Christ and anointed us is God.”


text: Or “first installment,” “pledge,” “deposit.” sn Down payment. The Greek word ἀρραβών ( arrabwn ) denotes the first payment or first installment of money or goods which serves as a guarantee or pledge for the completion of the transaction. In the NT the term is used only figuratively of the Holy Spirit as the down payment of the blessings promised by God (it occurs later in 2 Cor 5:5 , and also in Eph 1:14 ). In the “already – not yet” scheme of the NT the possession of the Spirit now by believers (“already”) can be viewed as a guarantee that God will give them the balance of the promised blessings in the future (“not yet”).


text: Grk “I call upon God as witness against my soul.” Normally this implies an appeal for help (L&N 33.176).


text: Here φειδόμενος ( feidomeno" ) has been translated as a telic participle.


text: Or “because you stand firm in the faith.”